Identification device for surgical instrument

• US 5,535,934 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Boiarski, Anthony A., Byrne, Mark T., Williamson, Warren P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US08/487,880
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 227/19, 227/175, 227/176, 227/901, 227/178, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/178.1, 128/4
• US Class Current: 227/175.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/07207 the staples being applied sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00022 Sensing or detecting at the treatment site
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0003 of parts of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00115 with audible or visual output
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00482 with a code
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07214 Stapler heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/07285 characterised by its cutter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0811 for the position of a particular part of an instrument with respect to the rest of the instrument, e.g. position of the anvil of a stapling instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6063 Optical identification systems

Abstract

A device is provided for identifying certain characteristics of an end piece or end effector of a surgical instrument. A preferred embodiment provides a surgical stapling instrument having an electrical circuit contained on the stapling cartridge which is capable of indicating cartridge type and/or status (i.e., with or without staples) when a voltage or current is applied to the circuit.

Claims

1. A cartridge containing staples for a surgical stapling instrument comprising an electrical device for indicating cartridge firing status, wherein said electrical device comprises an electrically activated fuse.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said fuse has a predetermined resistance indicating a corresponding cartridge type.